NLS wins battle of unbeatens
NEW LONDON -- New London-Spicer won the battle of unbeaten girls basketball teams and took over first-place in the West Central North Conference with a 45-35 win over Sauk Centre Tuesday.
The Wildcats (7-0, 14-0) ranked No. 2 in Class AA, held a 21-16 halftime lead as Brianna Jacobson scored 11 of her 12 points.
The Mainstreeters (6-1, 11-1), ranked No. 9 in Class AA, came back in the second half and took a one-point lead with about seven minutes left, but NLS leaned on the scoring of Justine Dammmermann, who netted 14 of her 16 points in the last 18 minutes, including all three of her three-pointers.
Cassie Ziemer led the Wildcats in rebounding with six.
Kali Peschel paced Sauk Centre with 15 points and Megan Rieland scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards.
It was the lowest scoring output of the season for the Mainstreeters, whose previous low was 50 in a win over Mora. Sauk Centre shot just 32 percent from the field against NLS.
It was also the lowest offensive output of the season for the Wildcats, whjo previously had 46 in a 10-point win over Albany. The Wildcats shot 33 percent from the floor.
New London-Spicer 45, Sauk Centre 35
Sauk Centre (6-1, 11-1) 16 19 -- 35
NL-Spicer (7-0, 14-0) 21 24 -- 45
SAUK CENTRE - 15-47 FG (3-19 3-pt); 2-6 FT; 30 rebounds; 20 fouls ... Scoring: Megan Rieland 12, Maren Greenwaldt 2, Kali Peschel 15, Savana Weller 2, Kourtney Nelson 4 ... 3-point shots: Rieland 2, Peschel 1 ... Rebound leaders: Rieland 10 ... Assist leaders: Greenwaldt 3 ... Steal leaders: Peschel 5
NEW LONDON-SPICER - 13-39 FG (4-15 3-pt); 15-20 FT; 30 rebounds; 11 fouls ... Scoring: Taylor Thompsen 8, Justine Dammermann 16, Michele Hanson 2, Karli Wendlandt 5, Abbey Knisely 2, Brianna Jacobson 12 ... 3-point shots: Thompsen 1, Dammermann 3 ... Rebound leaders: Cassie Ziemer 6 ... Assist leaders: Ziemer 5 ... Steal leaders: Wendlandt 3, Hanson 3
